A male sibling, a man joined to others by fellowship, faith, or group identity, a familiar form of address, and an informal cry of annoyance or surprise.
An exclamation, often in oh, brother, that shows annoyance, disbelief, disappointment, or surprise.
Examples
Oh, brother, here comes another delay.
Brother, what a mess this schedule is.
Oh, brother, not that excuse again.
When the printer jammed again, she muttered, "Oh, brother."
Oh, brother, this meeting is still going.
Similar words
oh no
good grief
come on
seriously
for crying out loud
wow
ugh
Etymology
From Old English brothor, from Proto-Germanic brothar, with cognates across Indo-European languages such as German Bruder, Latin frater, Greek phrater, and Sanskrit bhratar.
FAQ
What does brother mean in a family?
Brother means a male sibling who shares one or both parents with another person.
What is the plural of brother?
The usual plural is brothers. Brethren is old-fashioned and now mainly religious or formal.
Can brother mean a group member?
Yes. Brother can mean a fellow member of a fraternity, union, church, movement, or similar group.
What does Brother mean as a religious title?
Brother can be a title for a man in a Christian religious community, especially one not ordained as a priest.
Is brother the same as brother-in-law?
No. A brother is normally a male sibling, while a brother-in-law is related by marriage.
Is brother formal or informal as address?
As direct address, brother is informal unless it is a religious title before a name.
What does oh, brother mean?
Oh, brother is an informal exclamation of annoyance, disbelief, disappointment, or surprise.
Where does brother come from?
Brother comes from Old English brothor, from a very old Indo-European family word for a male sibling.
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